Sport: The Joy of Taking Part

Beyond the satisfaction of a hard-fought victory, the stirring sound of
national anthems and the glint of the medals, there is something more
to an Olympics, a warming sense best displayed by the athletes who have
no hope of placing in the top three, perhaps even the top 30, but
nonetheless go home winners.

When Bonny came sliding home

Bonny Warner, 21, a U.S. luge racer, crashed in her third run and
skidded agonizingly to the finish. "Until then I was in eighth place,"
she said proudly, ahead of the two kindly West Germans who...